Formula 1 World Grand Prix 2

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Grab your helmet and racing gloves. It's going to get very hardcore, very soon.

By IGN Staff

After going for a brisk spin around the track in my cute little sports car, ('84 300zx -- shameless car plug) should someone ask me what the meaning of life is, my answer would be straight forward and simple. Speed. Now, for someone such as Anoop and someone such as myself this has two different meanings, but for me, nothing beats the thrill of accelerating a hunk of steel to near break-neck speeds with nothing but pure reflex and a little bit of skill preventing you from careening into the nearest wall. In the real world that racing anxiety exists, as does it exist in Video Systems' Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Don't get me wrong, F1GP's sense of speed in its entirety may not be up to the likes of Wipeout, but whatever feeling of speed you do get in a realistic game such as this is greatly enhanced by the looming possibility of running into a wall or another car. The unreal sensation of going a zillion miles an hour isn't there, but it gets pretty damn tense maintaining any kind of speed with the constant possible consequences teasing you. You must win this race, or you must beat this time -- it's all a very delicate matter of skill and practice, as even the briefest of affairs with the wall can ruin your whole race. Fingers twitching, eyes getting sore from lack of blinking, it's all there.

With next month's North American release of Sega and Video System's Formula 1 Grand Prix comes great promise, as the title is perhaps one of the most ambitiously produced racing sims of all time. A healthy blend of solid, realistic play mechanics and feverish realism and accuracy seem to be the order of the day, with no small amount of fun thrown in. Casual gamer fun, sure, but for the die hard racing or F1 junkie, F1GP is poised to be gaming nirvana.

For starters, F1GP is so sickeningly accurate to the 1998 season that it boggles the mind. All the licenses are there, of course, but even more interesting is how closely the game mimics actual turn of events. Was it cloudy on a certain race day? It will be here, too. Did a given driver crash out early on a specific race? He will here, too. Every course, every driver, every car -- Everything is here. The attention to detail and authenticity is simply sick -- As over used as this phrase has become, Video Systems has done their homework. Some mad, mad homework.

As with most aspects of this game, a great deal of attention was given to the visual arena. The graphics are tight, sharp, and detailed. You're able to see every small detail on the cars around you during races, including grass or dirt on the wheels depending on the surface they just drove on. Details aren't spared outside of the cars, however, as the various buildings and locales have been so accurately reproduced to even the smallest detail that it's almost scary.

As with any game, however, the most important issue is gameplay, and in the case of a racing game, it all comes down to control. How does F1GP control? Well, it isn't easy, but I don't imagine driving an actual F1 racer at high speeds is easy, either [Anoop note: I've driven a real F1 racer, Matt, and let me assure you that it's quite difficult . . . that's right, I've driven an F1 racer . . . jealous?]. The first time you attempt to take a hairpin turn at 90mph you will be faced with the harsh realization (in the form of a wall) that such maneuvers just aren't possible, in real life, or in the game. Everything is about as realistic as seems possible. Sim junkies will eat it right up from the get go, but if casual or novice gamers are having difficulties, the game offers automatic AI braking (very helpful) to assist in slowing down for turns, which is one hundred percent essential if you enjoy staying even remotely on course.

What it all comes down to is this: F1GP is a remarkably accurate and enjoyable racing sim. Look for it on shelves next month, as well as our full US review. For more screens and further impressions, check out our review of the European version.